An American company that was paid nearly $700 million to secure an Iraqi base for F-16 fighter jets turned a blind eye to alcohol smuggling, theft, security violations and allegations of sex trafficking — then terminated investigators who uncovered wrongdoing, an AP investigation has found.

An American company that was paid nearly $700 million to secure an Iraqi base for F-16 fighter jets turned a blind eye to alcohol smuggling, theft, security violations and allegations of sex trafficking – then terminated investigators who uncovered wrongdoing, an Associated Press investigation has found.

In a statement to the AP, Sallyport said it follows all contracting rules at the base, home to a squadron of F-16s that are indispensable to the operations of the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group.

"Sallyport has a strong record of providing security and life support services in challenging war zones like Iraq and plays a major but unheralded role in the war against ," chief operating officer Matt Stuckart wrote.

Stuckart said Sallyport stood by its security procedures and got "High marks" from the U.S. Air Force.

Cole's reports noted lax protection for the F-16s. Despite requirements to report major security breaches, the U.S. government was not informed until early this year of the truck skidding near a jet or the armored-SUV theft, according to Cole and two other former Sallyport employees.